Monkey and banana problem
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The monkey and banana problem is a famous toy problem in artificial intelligence, particularly in logic programming and planning.
[edit] Formulation of the problem
A monkey is in a room. Suspended from the ceiling is a bunch of bananas, beyond the monkey's reach. In the corner of the room is a box. How can the monkey get the bananas?
The solution is that the monkey must push the box under the bananas, then stand on the box, and then grab the bananas. However, figuring this out requires a planning algorithm.
In other variants of the problem, the bananas are in a chest and the monkey first has to open the chest using a key.
[edit] The Point of the Problem
There are many applications of this problem. One is as a toy problem for computer science.
Another possible purpose of the problem is to raise the question: Are monkeys intelligent? Both humans and monkeys have the ability to use mental maps to remember things like where to go to find shelter, or how to avoid danger. They can also remember where to go to gather food and water, as well as how to communicate with each other. Monkeys have the ability not only to remember how to hunt and gather but to learn new things, as is the case with the monkey and the bananas: despite the fact that the monkey may never have been in an identical situation, with the same artifacts at hand, a monkey is capable of concluding that it needs to move the box across the floor, position it below the bananas, and climb the box to reach for them.
The degree to which such abilities should be ascribed to instinct or learning is a matter of debate.
